Did you know that there are foods that can cause sinus problems? It can be more than just an inconvenience to experience sinus symptoms. In fact, serious chronic sinus problems such as post nasal drip or sinus infections can cause severe pain and fluid build up for up to 12 weeks at a time. If you commonly experience sinus problems or suffer from chronic sinus infections, keep reading to see common foods that cause sinus problems and how to treat them when they do happen.

Dairy Products

Perhaps the most well-known and detrimental foods that cause sinus problems are dairy products. While not all dairy products will induce a sinus infection, regular consumption of milk, cheese, and similar dairy products can cause congestion. This is because they induce the creation of excess mucus in the mouth and throat and create the perfect environment for microbial growth.

For people who are susceptible to sinus problems, this can be a real issue. Sinus infections start from a buildup of mucus or other fluids in the nasal cavities that breed bacteria and create pressure. Eventually, this becomes infected and can cause pain and discomfort for weeks on end. In severe cases, this can last for up to 12 weeks and occur several times per year. If you suffer from chronic sinus problems, it is best to remove dairy products from your everyday diet.

Refined Sugar

Refined sugar is also commonly known to induce the production of mucus in the nose and throat. While this doesn’t mean that this needs to be avoided daily, it can promote inflammation when you are already experiencing symptoms. Regular consumption can also create mucus buildup that can lead to sinus infections.

Tomatoes

If you love Italian food or simply like a good BLT for lunch, hearing that tomatoes could be the culprit of your discomfort can be pretty disheartening. After all, they are the basis of many sauces and recipes in many cultures. Fortunately, this does not apply to all cases so you may not have to cut it out just yet. Tomatoes contain histamines that can cause an allergic reaction that presents as sinus problems. Taking a food sensitivity test can tell you for sure if you need to steer clear of tomatoes in the future.

Chocolate

Milk chocolate contains both milk and refined sugar that is thickened by the addition of cocoa powder and cocoa butter used in the production process. This accelerated the impact on the creation of mucus, congestion, and microbial growth. The good news is that this is specific to milk chocolate. Dark chocolate can still be consumed without inducing sinus problems. However, all chocolate should be avoided when experiencing congestion just to be sure.

Gluten

Similar to tomatoes, gluten contains compounds that are hard for some people to digest and can cause allergic reactions and intolerance. One of the most common side effects for people who are sensitive to gluten include chronic sinus problems that can lead to restricted airways that can be life-threatening in severe cases.

Bananas

Again, this is not something that you need to avoid daily as it can have some beneficial effects when incorporated into your diet. However, when you experience the onset of sinus congestion, steer clear of bananas for a few days as they can cause additional congestion and turn a simple runny nose into an infection in those that are susceptible.

Treatments For Chronic Sinus Problems

There are several ways to treat chronic sinus problems – before and after the onset of symptoms – that can prove effective. The best part is, most of them are gentle and natural with little to no side effects. These include the use of herbs that are rich in antioxidants and rinse your nasal cavities regularly.

Herbal teas and antioxidant-rich supplements can be especially beneficial in preventing and treating chronic sinus infections. Some supplements such as turmeric can actually help your body naturally adapt to what it needs to fight off infection and reduce inflammation. Ginger and garlic can help reduce inflammation and prevent microbial growth in the body. Antioxidants also protect the mucus membrane to reduce the introduction of allergens in sensitive areas of the sinuses.

Nasal irrigation is one of the best treatments for sinus problems. You can achieve this by using a Neti Pot to rinse out the sinuses with saline solution or a gentle mineral salt solution. For sporadic cases, rinse twice daily at the onset of symptoms to avoid sinus infections. This can reduce the symptom length from a few weeks to only a few days or remove them altogether as soon as they arrive. For chronic sinus problems rinse regularly to avoid the fluid buildup that causes sinus infections.

To use a Neti Pot, use distilled or boiled water that is cooled to room temperature. Do not use filtered water, filters can not remove bacteria that are not harmful to consume but can be harsh on the sinuses causing further inflammation. Mineral salt should be approved for nasal irrigation use. There are trace minerals in certain sea salts or infused salts that can gently rejuvenate the sinuses. However, certain salts such as table salts are stripped of these trace minerals and may contain additives. Nasal irrigation should not sting or burn and is actually rather gentle when done correctly.

Sinus problems are nothing to blink at, they can be very serious and sometimes can lead to life-threatening conditions when left untreated. In order to determine what foods are contributing to your sinus problems consider taking a food test to see if allergies or sensitivities are behind your condition. You can also try avoiding one food at a time for a month or so to see if certain foods are damaging your mucus membranes or causing infections in your nasal passages.

For treatment options, check out our store to see how Neti Pots, salts, and other sinus treatments can help you.